Lone Star College-University Park celebrates 10 years of Innovation

HOUSTON, TX -- Lone Star College-University Park recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with the “Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation” event Dec. 6.

“Congratulations to Lone Star College-University Park on achieving this significant milestone,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC Chancellor. “Since its beginning, this campus has laid the groundwork to transform higher education by taking a fresh look at how to best serve its students.”

At the “Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation” event, the college received several proclamations and flags from top federal, state and local leaders declaring Dec. 6, 2022 as LSC-University Park Day. Sam Harless, Texas State Representative District 126 and LSC Alumni; Jack Cagle, Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4; and Bobby Lieb, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, personally presented their commendations.

“We are honored and proud of how our community leaders showed their unwavering support of Lone Star College-University Park,” said Shah Ardalan, Ed.D., LSC-University Park President. “This is the only college in the country built on an open Invitation to Innovate (i2i), which transformed the property into this community’s college.”

Representatives from the offices of Greg Abbot, Texas Governor; Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Congressman 2nd District; Sylvester Turner, City of Houston Mayor and Jack Cagle, Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4, also presented proclamations.

“Lone Star College-University Park is a tremendous asset to this community and its economic prosperity, said Sam Harless, Texas State Representative District 126. “Congratulations to Dr. Shah Ardalan for his leadership at the college and in the community.”

The LSC-University Park Percussion, Choir and Jazz Trio provided musical performances, and the college’s Visual and Performing Arts department unveiled a mural at the anniversary celebration. Event attendees included current and former LSC Board of Trustees, fellow LSC Presidents, donors and supporters, chambers of commerce representatives, industry, community and corporate leaders and higher education and K-12 partner executives including University of Houston-Downtown, Klein Independent School District and iSchool High.

“On behalf of LSC-UP employees and students, I am grateful to our elected officials, partners, community leaders, and all the friends and supporters of the college for a tremendous and humbling show of pride and appreciation,” said Ardalan. “It was indeed a beautiful day at Lone Star College-University Park, and the best is yet to come.”

Speakers at the “Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation” event were Keith Barber, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital CEO and LSC Alumni; Jenny McGown, Ed.D., Klein Independent School District Superintendent; Daniel Villanueva, Jr., Ph.D., University of Houston-Downtown Enrollment Management Vice President; Martha Donnelly, LSC-University Park Faculty and Senate President; Clavelia Martin, LSC-University Park Professional Support Staff Association Secretary; and Kayla Hajdik, LSC-University Park Student Government Association President.

“I want to thank Lone Star College-University Park for their exemplary work in helping Klein ISD prepare our students to exit with their purpose in whichever pathway they choose successfully,” said Jenny McGown, Ed.D., Klein ISD Superintendent. “I am grateful for this wonderful partnership, which has saved students and families thousands of dollars.”

LSC-University Park, located in the former headquarters of the Compaq Computer Corporation, officially opened as a university center Jan. 4, 2010, and served 6,030 students. The campus’s growth exploded in two years, leading it to become LSC’s sixth full-service college. LSC-University Park held its official opening celebration June 6, 2012, and dedicated Buildings 10, 11, 12 and 13 Dec. 6, 2012.

LSC-University Park offers 57 degrees and certificates. It houses the LSC-Energy and Manufacturing Institute and the Center for Science and Innovation. The college plans to unveil its Visual and Performing Arts Center in December 2023. Visit LoneStar.edu/UniversityPark to learn more about LSC-University Park.

Lone Star College is celebrating 50 years of providing quality, affordable, competitive educational opportunities to families in the greater north Houston area. LSC’s entire history is available at LoneStar.edu/50Years.

Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education, ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.